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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 13:32:36 GMT -5
Also another question....when I give the egg yolk every few days for shedding, is it one yolk per ferret? or one yolk shared between the 3 ferrets?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 13:38:42 GMT -5
Okay, try smaller chunks. When I first started my switch, I sliced the slivers about the size of my pinky nail...and as thin as I could make it, just shavings really. But we might not need to go back that far. Try 1/2 tsp per 8 ounces and see how that does with the runny poos. If that is in just the mush and then you are adding chunks to go with it, put in a little more. Or better yet, make the batch of food without it and sprinkle each meal with it so you make sure to get the right amount per each feeding. You can actually freeze and thaw a few times. I buy it frozen, thaw it, portion it and then refreeze. No problems so far. And if you are making a big batch, just make the mush that way. You are going to be adjusting the sizes of the chunks periodically and I don't want you to be stuck with a bunch of food and have to wait to adjust the size of the chunks. You can chop up chunks enough for a few days though. Lets see how that goes for a few days and then we can decide if you need to adjust the sizes of the chunks. My bunch just loves pork! It's one of their favorite meats! When I put pork in, they all come running and eat it all...not like chicken. LOL Chicken they can give or take but Holy Cow, they go nuts for the pork! I buy from the asian market for pork button bone...it's easy to cut up and marbled with fat. But I also get a small package of pork country style spare ribs (no bone) and give them some of that. Again, they love it! Plus, not much cutting up involved with cuts like that. I get quail at the asian market, much cheaper than the butcher for the same price. The thing I like about the pork is it is a clean meat...not slippery like chicken, much easier to handle. If you can get your hands on a small package of it, lets give that a try. i'd like to see if the runny poos clear up with the added bone and smaller chunks. Egg is going to cause a bit runnier of poo, but that's to be expected. If they have an allergy to chicken, that can cause those icky runny poos so picking up another type of protein to put in might help with that too. We'll get them straightened out!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 13:41:10 GMT -5
chicken egg, right? Since we are doing maintenance on fur shedding, just add one egg yolk for the whole bunch every other day or three days. Have you been hearing any coughing or any gagging while eating?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 14:10:58 GMT -5
So u can freeze and thaw a few times with any meat then too? yes chicken egg. I don't notice then coughing or gagging...Alto choked on a piece of meat last night when he was eating....more like a gag actually. so the chunks must be too big for him right now. I'll cut the chunks a bit smaller then tonight for their supper see how that goes. I'll check my flyers and see what stores have pork on sale and when they do, I'll pick some up and try it. Actually....I have pork cutlets I made for myself in my freezer! they are pounded down and tenderized. hmm, maybe I'll bring some out tonight and see what they think of it. If they don't like it, could I add the pork into the chicken mixture? would that be safe? heres about the size I feed now:
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 14:23:41 GMT -5
Yeah, I think they are going to like going down in size with those chunks. They need to learn to eat it properly as well as get used to the texture. If they aren't coughing or gagging then try just twice a week with the egg...unless you notice any increase in coughing or gagging. I'd like to see how they do without the pumpkin and adding in extra eggshell. That chunk in the picture, you could take that in half and that might be a good place to start.
You can def put pork in with the chicken. totally safe! And for the pork....just the tiniest of slivers! As small as your pinky nail. We need to slip it in so they don't notice. If you mix those with your chicken mush they might just eat them up without ever noticing the change. But not more than just a few slivers...like 5 or 6 in with the mush. by tenderized pork, you mean just pounded them? no salts or spices, right? pounded out pork cutlets would be a good first try. If they are frozen (and no added salts or other spices or flavors) just take your knife and sliver a few pieces right off the end. I did mine so thin that the slivers curled and they were nearly see through. That's what we are going for here.
I'm excited to hear how it goes!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 14:25:55 GMT -5
Oh, and yes, any meat for ferrets can be thawed and refrozen. I really try to process all the meats on the first thaw then refreeze in meal sized packages. Then the next thaw is the one they eat. I have, at times, gotten side tracked and didn't get everything portioned. Just put it back in the freezer and do it again later. If it does go bad they won't eat it anyway so not too big of a deal.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 0:14:40 GMT -5
Ya the pork cutlets are just pork tenderloin I picked up and pounded them down myself so its just all meat, no added salt or anything to them. I didn't have time to do the pork thing....I had a bat stuck to my screen door so I was kinda distracted for half the night trying to figure that out...there's always something! But tomorrow I'll get the pork up and try it. So I cut up the chunks to about half the size and Alto ate it much better. He doesn't chew too much when he eats them it doesn't look like. But at least he ate them!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 0:37:13 GMT -5
A bat??? Holy cow! So what did you do? It was stuck? Poor thing! That's good...glad Alto ate better tonight. How did everyone else do? How much food are they eating in one sitting...I think you said about 4 ounces, is that correct? At this point, it's okay if he doesn't chew them much...there isn't that much to chew yet. But he does chew a little and he'll get used to the texture that way. To make sure that the fuzzies are getting enough to eat, please choose a day of the week that is convenient for you and post all their weights. Since you have one that is a bit finicky, it's a good idea to keep track of them carefully. How are the others doing? Anything going on with them? also, let me know how the poo is looking. also I found this.... it's a standard size and terminology so that we understand what each other are saying. It's hard to do a switch anyway and then to have it be over the internet sending messages, it can be confusing. This looks to be helpful. From reading this, and looking at your picture, it seems like we moved your chunks from small chunks to bit sized. Does that look right to you? Soup: Thin puree- completely blended, thickness of a cream soup. Thick puree- less water added, still completely blended. Thickness of pudding. Minced soup- gradually switching from thick puree to a very wet ground meat by pureeing less and adding meat the consistency of ground. Meat sizes: Slivers- the size of your fingernail cresent. A bit larger than ground, but still very small Bit sized- tiny diced bits of meat approx. 1/8" cubes Small chunk- a bit larger, approx 1/4" cubes Med. chunk- 1/2" cubes Large chunks- 1" cubes Have a good evening and keep the bats away! Agree
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 2:17:16 GMT -5
Yes, a bat lol. I guess he wasn't stuck, he was hanging on it with his little claws when I let the dogs out, it was scary. My brother came by and got a tree branch and got the bat to go on there, then he flew off into the tree. So I'm sure he will be back haha....we had one in our house just a month ago(probably same one), and he flew at my face, let me tell u I have never screamed so loud in my life, and never ran so fast lol.
Everyone ate pretty well tonight. Oh and I weighed their food from this morning and it was 4.6oz then tonight I weighed what was left and only 0.6oz. So they are eating almost all of it anyway. With the chunks being smaller now I'm sure they will all get to eat it now with hopefully not much leftover. Ya I would say more like bit sized would be right. And also the chicken that I grind up with the chunks would be more like a minced type grind or even thicker, with barely any water added at all. I'll weigh the ferrets every Monday too.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 23:15:53 GMT -5
I added about 12 slivers of pork tonight, and they don't even notice!! haha The thing I notice with the ferrets when they eat, is they won't eat much if i don't add a few drops of water to it. Once I add a few drops then they eat it. Mika is especially picky that way. And I'm trying to cut back on the salmon oil too. I used to have to add it to their food every time to get them to eat it. I add just 1 capsule of oil a day now, or 1 every other day. Is that still too much? I add it when they REALLY don't want to eat.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2013 23:16:04 GMT -5
*accidentally posted my reply twice
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2013 0:21:23 GMT -5
so that's great news all around! (dance) 4 oz is a good amount for three fuzzies of their sizes! We should see those weights stabilize at that rate. The oil will make their poos runnier, but for now if it is working and you are cutting back on the oil stay with it a few more days. They are getting the feel of the texture and for me that was the first real hurdle to get over. A few drops of water is okay for now. Eventually we will remove that, but for now, keep that same type of meal going. Don't want to change things up too fast for them. You are doing great! For their sizes, that's about the right amount of food for now but if they eat it all up and want more, by all means, give it to them. It's okay to leave a little, better too much than not enough food. you will see them ebb and flow with how much they want to eat. Mine are going through a phase right now of eating less than usual. It's warmer right now and they aren't getting out to play as much...so less food is expected. If they don't eat as much for a day or two, it's okay. They eat what they need. Speaking of poos...how are those looking? are they starting to firm up a little? Don't forget....when you change proteins you can expect a change in poo. Their tummies need to get used to it and each type of protein digests a different way. Good news on the pork! Don't go overboard with it just yet, but keep adding a few slivers and see what happens. Stay with what you are doing for a couple days. In a few days you can try reducing the number of chicken chunks and increasing the number of pork. See how they do with it. This method is how we are going to get them to eat other new things in the future. So here's the plan now.... do exactly what you did today for the next two days....same basic formula- about the same amount of mush and the same amount of slivers (pork and chicken). If you get through a few meals at this size of chunks, you can go up a little bit in size. Still not what you were giving them before you reduced the size of the chunks, but a little tiny bit bigger. When you get weights on Monday we can see where they are. I'm really excited about your progress! Great job! and HOLY COW!!!! A bat flew at your face?!?!?! I would have run screaming like a little girl! hehehe
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2013 20:54:01 GMT -5
Their poops are looking alright...some are really nice and others are runny. This morning they didn't want to eat much. There's quite a few pieces left. Maybe they just didn't want to eat today...It was really hot out so that could be why. I'll add some pork to their supper again
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 11:09:05 GMT -5
Why is it when the ferrets are eating, they want to be spoon fed? They have a few licks on their own then act like they are done eating and try to take off, then I grab them and spoon the food and they eat again? Drives me crazy! Last night Alto had a few bites then tried to take off with a chunk already. That usually means he's full...and he should have been hungry. I wish they would go crazy for their food but it seems they could care less about it lol. They would rather play and get into trouble silly ones.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2013 0:41:19 GMT -5
Ran out of chicken liver...thought I had some in my freezer but no...So I bought beef liver. Do I need to feed the same as a chicken liver? Like weight wise?
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